Why Entropy of Carnot Engine is 0 & Heat Transfer in Refrigerator

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The entropy of a cyclic Carnot engine is zero because heat transfer occurs when the system and surroundings are at the same temperature, resulting in no net entropy change. The total entropy change is calculated by the equation dS = dS_{sys} + dS_{surr}, which equals zero during reversible processes where no heat flows occur. In the context of refrigeration, heat is extracted from the cold reservoir (Qc) and transferred to the hot reservoir (Qh), with Qh being negative and Qc positive. This process illustrates how energy is moved against its natural flow, maintaining the second law of thermodynamics. Understanding these principles is crucial for grasping the efficiency of thermodynamic cycles.
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Can someone explain why the entropy of a cyclic carnot engine is equal to 0?

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html
Also in the refigerator section, why is Q_h coming into the heat reservoir when Q_c is the one being transferred??
 
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AznBoi said:
Can someone explain why the entropy of a cyclic carnot engine is equal to 0?

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html
Entropy is 0 because the heat flow occurs when the system and surroundings are at the same temperature.

dS_{sys} = dQ_{sys}/T_{sys}; dS_{surr} = dQ_{surr}/T_{surr} = - dQ_{sys}/T_{surr}

The total entropy change is:

dS = dS_{sys} + dS_{surr} = dQ_{sys}\left{(}\frac{1}{T_{sys}} - \frac{1}{T_{surr}}\right{)}

So if the system and surrounding temperatures are infinitessimally close while heat flows, there is no entropy change. [There is no heat flow during the reversible adiabatic expansion and compression so there is no entropy change during the adiabatic processes (ds=dQ/T = 0/T = 0).]
Also in the refigerator section, why is Q_h coming into the heat reservoir when Q_c is the one being transferred??
A refrigeration cycle takes heat from the cold reservoir and delivers it to the hot reservoir. So Qh (the heat flow from the hot reservoir) is negative and Qc (the heat flow from the cold reservoir) is positive.

AM
 
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